Friday, March 23, 2007

15 British Sailors Kidnapped by Iranian Forces

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran captured fifteen British Royal Navy personnel during a "routine boarding operation" in Iraqi waters on Friday, Britain's Ministry of Defense said.

Iran's ambassador in London has been summoned and Britain is demanding the immediate safe release of the sailors.

"At approximately 1030 Iraqi time this morning, 15 British naval personnel, engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters ... were seized by Iranian naval vessels," the ministry said in a statement.

The question is, was this simply the act of an over eager local commander, or part of a scheme by Iran's government, which, after all, came to power using the kidnapping of US diplomats?